The Artist's Mother: Head Only, Full Face, 1628
Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijnexpand_more
Etchingexpand_more
Gift of Elizabeth, Julie, and Catherine Andrus in memory of John and Marion Andrusexpand_more 2015.93.117
Not on Viewexpand_more
Rembrandt was living at home in Leiden, Holland, when he sat down to etch in front of an easily accessible model, his 60-year-old mother. Old, lined faces would be a lifelong motif for him, but it’s hard to imagine one etched with more delicacy or penetration. The air of introspection may owe to the Dutch tradition of picturing aged people as pious and pondering salvation. When plans to extend the torso didn’t work out, Rembrandt, then age 22, did the unthinkable and severed the plate under his mother’s chin. He was nonetheless proud of the print, dating and signing it as a finished work. His mother is the only verifiable family member he recorded. Rembrandt named his three daughters (two died young) Cornelia, after her.
Details
- Title
- The Artist's Mother: Head Only, Full Face
- Artist Life
- 1606–1669
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2015.93.117
- Provenance
- Possibly Von Döhn sale, Paris 1813; sold to Geissler; ('Johann Martin Friedrich Geissler (1779-1853), his sale, Leipzig, October 29, 1855). John E. Andrus III, Wayzata, Minn.; by descent to his daughters, Elizabeth, Katie, and Julie; gave to MIA, 2015. Earlier provenances have been gathered, but further research will increase our knowledge of their histories.
- Catalogue Raisonne
- White+Boon 352 ii/ii (with hood completed and lettering added); Hind 2; New Hollstein 6 ii/ii; Münz 83; Gersaint 320; Björklund 28-B
- Curator Approved
This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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